Revival of the abandoned Czech village Pavlový Studenec at summer festival

A weekend festival in the Český les region brings back the vanished village of Pavlový Studenec, which was abandoned after World War II. Visitors can take guided tours of the former settlement, watch summer‑cinema screenings, attend talks and exhibitions, and stay in tents or under the open sky where the old houses once stood.

For the first time in 81 years the traditional folk celebration Schaa‑Feier returned, featuring four madonnas carried in procession, choral contests and a mass. The event is organised by the Czech‑Bavarian friendship association, which uses the program to highlight the area’s shared Czech and German heritage and to preserve memories of the displaced residents. Local clergy and descendants of former inhabitants take part, and the festival also offers live music, food and drink inspired by Czech and Bavarian cuisine, as well as land‑art installations and theatrical performances.